Abstract
This study derived an expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm for estimating the parameters of multidimensional item response models. A genetic algorithm (GA) was developed to be used in the maximization step in each EM cycle. The focus of the EM‐GA algorithm developed in this paper was on multidimensional items with mixed structure. Simulated item response data were generated and then estimated by a computer program based on the EM‐GA algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate that the EM‐GA algorithm is a very promising approach in estimating multidimensional item response model parameters.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | i-38 |
| Journal | ETS Research Report Series |
| Volume | 2005 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- genetic algorithm
- GA
- EM-GA algorithm
- ASSEST
- estimation
- multidimensional item response theory
- MIRT
- mixed structure
- approximate simple structure